John Bible Study Lesson 2

John Bible Study Lesson 2

1.       Do some research in commentaries and on the Internet and then list the seven "I AM" statements that most scholars refer to in the book of John.

The I AM statements of Jesus in the book of John:

Jn.8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am (He), you will die in your sins."

John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"

John 8:23: And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:36: "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

John 19:2: Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"

2. Do the same(research & list) for the seven "signs or miracles" that John uses in the book of John.

Miracle 1 (Water Into Wine … 2:1-11)

This one is misunderstood by most and yet results in the disciples putting their faith in the Lord. (This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed His Glory and the disciples put their faith in Him, vs. 11). It seems so insignificant when compared the opening miracles in the other gospels, which involved either casting out demons or curing leprosy. 6 empty jars of stone, normally used to hold water for ceremonial cleansing, are filled with water (by unnamed servants) that the Lord turns into wine. The master of the banquet proclaims this wine to be superior to the wine served earlier.

Look at the symbolism: 6 (the number of man) jars, stone, cold and empty (the heart condition of unregenerate man) filled with water (the living water) by unnamed servants (the Holy Spirit) which is changed to wine (the joy of our salvation). The new wine (new covenant) is superior to the old (old covenant). Remember, the jars of water were for ceremonial cleansing, central to Old Covenant practice. From the stone, cold, dead, and empty way of man’s religion into the living, joyful, relationship symbolized by the wedding celebration … this miracle symbolizes nothing less than the Mission of the Messiah.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)

Miracle 2 (Healing the Official’s Son … 4:43-54).

Here’s an act of God’s Grace, pure and simple. There’s no indication of the official’s nationality or background, his religious conviction or his worthiness … only his faith. Implicit in the narrative is the fact that his conversation with the Lord happened on one day and his journey home took place on the next. The man took Jesus at His word and spent the night there before heading back home, believing his son was already healed and there was no longer any cause for concern…v.50.

For by grace you have been saved, through faith … and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephe. 2:8).

Miracle 3 (The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda … 5:1-9).

Tradition holds that an angel periodically stirred the waters at the Pool of Bethesda. The first one into the water was then healed. Many sick and infirmed waited there by the pool day after day for a chance to be healed. But a cripple can’t get himself to the pool in time. (If he could he wouldn’t need to; since he needs to he can’t … Catch 22.) For 38 years he had tried and failed. 38 years corresponds to the time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land. It was there that they received the Law.

I believe this man’s predicament demonstrates the poverty of the Law, which was never intended to heal us of our infirmities (physical and spiritual) but to show us the need for a Savior … that we’re hopeless and helpless without Him. The fact that this healing took place on the Sabbath further underscores the point. Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well” (symbolically, do you want to be released from the bondage of the Law … do you want to quit trying to achieve salvation by your own futile effort)?

Not by works so that no one can boast (Ephe 2:9).

Miracle 4 (The feeding of the 5000 … 6:1-5).

This is perhaps the best known of all the Lord’s miracles and the only one before the resurrection to appear in all 4 gospels. The fact that it occurs around the time of the Passover, that Mark emphasizes the grass where they sat was green (reference to Psalm 23?), there were 5 loaves, 2 fishes and 12 baskets full left over makes this a particularly Jewish miracle. The Messiah is offering to be the source of supernatural provision for the believing remnant of Israel.

I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35)

Miracle 5 (Walking on the Water … 6:16-25).

The 5th miracle is also well known to everyone familiar with the Lord’s ministry. The disciples had labored all night long to row only about half way across the Sea of Galilee, when the Lord passed by them … walking on the water. In Matthew’s account, Peter asked to come to the Lord on the water. “Come” said the Lord. Peter got down out of the boat, standing on the surface of the sea. While focused totally on the Lord Peter walked toward Him. But becoming distracted by the fury of the storm, he looked down, and seeing where he was, began to sink. “Save me Lord”, he cried, and immediately the Lord was there at his side. “O you of little faith,” He said to Peter, “Why did you doubt?”

Peter being called out of the boat is a model of the Church, called out of Israel and given supernatural power as long as we are focused on Him and unmindful of the distractions of this world. This miracle is as Gentile in its focus as the feeding of the 5000 was Jewish.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I’ve been doing (John 14:12)

Miracle 6 (Healing The Man Born Blind … 9:1-41).

Another model of Israel is shown here, reminiscent of the words of Moses in the wilderness. “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear” (Deut 29:2-4.)

While this miracle is accomplished early in Chapter 9, the balance of the narrative clearly shows how much more spiritual discernment this blind beggar had than the learned officials of the religion, who studied all their lives but lacked the supernatural wisdom of the Holy Spirit, given to the blind man at the moment of belief (Ephe. 1:13-14). This miracle demonstrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the believer, irrespective of intellect, education, position or stature. Reminds me of the opening verses of Isaiah 9 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light”.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name will teach you all things (John 14:26).
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)

Miracle 7 (Raising Lazarus From The Dead … 11:1-44).

The last miracle before the resurrection shows the fulfillment of Our Lord’s promise to all who believe in His name, as Lazarus is called out of the grave and restored from death to life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

3. Read John 20:31. What is the stated purpose of the book?

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31.

There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's resurrection, but these were committed to writing, that all might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of sinners, and the Son of God; that, by this faith, they might obtain eternal life, by his mercy, truth, and power. May we believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have life through his name.

4. Read the account of the "burning bush" in Exodus 3. What is this (His Name) saying about God? Burning Bush

       God hears the complaints of Israel and tells Moses to intervene, via the burning bush on Horeb. God tells Moses that God will bring Israel to the area of Canaan out of Egypt; God will do it through Moses. Moses doubts his ability, but God reassures him that He will be with him. God names Himself "I AM." Moses is to gather the elders and tell them of God's plan: they are to get Pharaoh's permission to leave "temporarily" to sacrifice to God, three days away. (3) Moses doubts his ability, but God gives him some miraculous signs to perform: a rod that becomes a snake, a leprous and then cleansed hand, and turning the river to blood. Moses still doubts, so God, angry, appoints his brother Aaron to be the main speaker. Moses finally agrees and returns from Midian. God gives Moses a message for Pharaoh: if Pharaoh does not let Israel, God's firstborn, out of Egypt, then God will kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. On the way, Moses meets Aaron and tells him the plan. In Egypt, they tell their people, who believe after seeing the signs. (4)

       Moses and Aaron give Pharaoh the message. But Pharaoh doesn't believe them or care about God, and instead thinks the Hebrews are trying to slack off from making bricks. So Pharaoh makes it even harder; the Hebrews have to find their own straw for bricks, but their quotas remain as high as ever. The Israelites get mad at Moses for this, and Moses complains to God. (5) God tells Moses to reassure the Israelites, giving him the words to say, but when Moses says them, the people are too discouraged to believe him. Moses takes this as proof of his bad oratorical skills. Then there is a genealogy leading up to Moses, and a reminder that Moses had complained of his bad oratorical skills from the start. (6)

       God reassures Moses again, and says that He will let Pharaoh's heart remain obstinate in failing to let the Israelites go. God has Moses and Aaron do the rod/snake sign, which doesn't mean much to Pharaoh, because his magicians can do it as a trick. Ditto the river/blood sign. The river becomes putrid for a week. (7)

5. Read John 8:56 - 59. What was Jesus saying who He was? Why were they going to stone Him?  Jesus said “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad”. Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am! Hence they threw stones at him.
6. Read John 4 the account of the women at the well with Christ. Meditate upon John 4:26 especially the King James translation. What is Jesus telling the women? Jesus saith unto her, I-- am he - Our Lord never spoke in such direct terms concerning himself to his own countrymen; nor even to his own disciples, till a little before his death. The reason given by Bishop Pearce is the following: The woman being alone when Jesus said it, and being a Samaritan, he had no reason to apprehend that the Samaritans, if they knew his claim, would disturb his ministry before the time of his suffering came; which seems to have been the reason why he concealed it so long from his own countrymen.

7. Read John 3:1-21. Relate the discussion of light in verses 19-21 to John declaring that Jesus is light in John 1:4.

John 19:21:Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate,.... Who were not only informed of this inscription, but might read it themselves, for they were present at the crucifying of Christ, and mocked at him as he hung on the tree; these, when they read the title, were greatly offended at it, partly because it was doing too great an honour to Jesus to call him the King of the Jews: and partly because it fixed a public brand of infamy upon their nation, that a king of theirs should be crucified: wherefore they went to Pilate and addressed him, saying,

write not the King of the Jews: because they did not own him for their king, which this title seemed to suggest, nor had he in their opinion any right to such a character; wherefore they desired that in the room of these words he would be pleased to put the following,

but that he said, I am King of the Jews; that so he might be thought to be a seditious person and a traitor; one that laid claim to the temporal crown and kingdom of Israel, and one that suffered justly for attempts of that kind.

John 1:4:In him was life. He had life in himself, and hence is a fountain from whence life flows to man. Death could not hold him, because in him is life, and he became the Resurrection and the Life (Joh 11:25) for us.

The life was the light of men. The life that Christ bestows enlightens men. He is the Light of the World (Joh 8:12 9:5). His light chases away the darkness of the earth, though, when John wrote, the darkness did not receive it. Men, in darkness, had eyes and saw not. All history demonstrates that Christ is the Light of the World; every redeemed soul recognizes the fact.

8. Read "1 John chapter 1". Relate this to John in the book of John declaring that Jesus is light and life. Jesus is the light of life (vv. 4-9)

Let’s read verse 4, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” There are two fundamental philosophical propositions men have asked: “Where am I from?” and “Who am I?” What do you think about yourself?

First, Jesus is the life giver. To the first question, most frequent answer is “I came from my parents.”  Our physical lives came from our parents and their lives from their parents. Our lives stemmed from the first man Adam who was created by the Creator God. Knowing that Jesus is the Creator, we know that our lives came from Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the origin of life. Jesus is the source of all life. We need to respect and honor our parents. But serving our parents cannot be our ultimate purpose. Let’s read verse 4 again, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” This verse declares that every person’s life is inextricably linked to Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance fir us to do.”We live because Jesus said, "Live.'" We did not choose to live, but Jesus, in his transcendent wisdom, bestowed life upon us. Therefore, life is a gift to enjoy as well as a responsibility to fulfill Jesus' divine purpose. Our lives are precious no matter who we are. The live of cute boy like Luke, of the blossoming young students like you and of a middle-aged man like me are all meaningful and significant. People seek happiness by earning money and enjoying bits of things without Jesus.  But nothing in the world can satisfy the deep longings of the human heart. Solomon was a king who enjoyed all kinds of luxuries and wisdom, but he said in Ecclesiastes 1:14 “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Without Jesus, the source of life, our lives become meaningless.

Moreover, the ‘life’ in Jesus is a translation of Greek ‘zoe,’ meaning eternal life. Whatever visible life we see is not the complete life we have in Christ. What we experience in this world is a small portion of the life we have in Christ. Our physical lives experience growth, illness and aging. All the glory in our present life is temporary. In Christ Jesus we have eternal life from God—the life that is not corruptible or perishable but glorious. We will be like the angels. This life is most precious of all. We should praise the owner of our life. 

What can really satisfy the human soul?  The answer is found in the first two words of verse 4, “In him.”  “In him” means to know Jesus and to be with Jesus. “In him” means a personal relationship with Christ.  Jesus Christ is the living God.  We can approach him anywhere at any time.  He accepts us as his own children and makes us a part of God’s family. When we have a personal relationship with him, he breathes his own life into us and comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.  How can we start a personal relationship with Jesus?  It begins when we believe in him.

Second, Jesus is the true light. Look at verse 4 again. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Jesus is the light of men. Light is a symbol of goodness. It connotes understanding, direction, and joy. But verse 5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” The Apostle John sees the world dark apart from Jesus. When God made the Garden of Eden, Adam was in the light because God was with him. But when he fell to Satan’s temptation, darkness came over him. Darkness is a world under the power of sin and death. Darkness is a world full of deceit, ignorance and despair. Without Jesus man has no light.

God is omnipresent. But Satan, the prince of darkness, continually invites us to darkness with things of the world. Those who live in darkness seem to have goals and direction. They may look happy and successful.  But there is a spiritual world that they do not see. They don’t understand where they came from and where they are going. They don’t know the purpose and meaning in life. We who are in Jesus may not have much understanding either. We make a lot of mistakes and fail to understand the truth.  But Jesus is with us. Jesus is taking care of us. Jesus goes ahead of us and guides us through life until we reach our ultimate destination in the kingdom of God.  Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Look at verses 6-8. “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” Because the world did not understand the light, God sent a witness John the Baptist. He was not the light but a voice of a witness to the true light.  Let’s read verse 9. “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Jesus is the true light. There are so many lights in the world­­¾ glowing fireflies, candle lights, street lights and fluorescent lights, and so on. But sun light is completely different from these in power and universality. As the sun light is essential for growth of all plants and for protection from infections, the light of Jesus helps us to continually grow in spirit until we enter the eternal kingdom. Our spirit in the darkness becomes filthy and powerless.

The dark world fills people with sorrow. One person may think he is too skinny; another thinks she is too big.  Some have experienced personal tragedy; others have been hurt by others. Some may suffer from guilty conscience for shameful sins. If a person does not address these elements of sorrow, darkness eventually spreads throughout his life. But Jesus is the true light that removes all the elements of darkness. Jesus gives us true comfort. Jesus’ light is effective to every man. Jesus enlightens us to understand God’s will upon us and find our purpose in life. When we know the precious meaning of our lives, we can truly please him. In him we can live a powerful life that bears much fruit. Though we are weak and make mistakes, in Jesus’ light, we are sanctified to be like him. Let all of us bring our sorrows and problems to Jesus the true light to be solved. Let’s receive his light every moment through Jesus’ words.

9. Read John 17:17. How does this relate to John saying earlier that Jesus is truth (John 1:17)? Discuss Jesus and the "Word of God" being declared as truth. What relationship is the "Word of God" to the "Law of God"? John 17:17-19 Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kept from evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that are his, that they may be made holy. Even disciples must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of giving this grace is, through thy truth, thy word is truth. Sanctify them, set them apart for thyself and thy service. Own them in the office; let thy hand go with them. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have not this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not receive them by a living and a working faith, but as mere notions.

John1:17 The law - Working wrath and containing shadows: was given - No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law. Jesus - St. John having once mentioned the incarnation {Joh 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book. The Word of God is the name, identity, title and honour given to Jesus alone. This is who He is. As The Word of God He is the promise of God and the fulfillment of that promise. Because Jesus always was, and always will be The Word of God, the very reputation of God was dependant on Jesus fulfilling the promise of salvation. To call anything else The Word (or word) of God takes this away from Him.

The Mosaic Law was God’s law for the nation of Israel under the old covenant. The "law of Christ" is God’s law for Christians in the New Testament era.

10. Meditate upon your response to the above questions. Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you see a relationship to Light, Love, Law, and Light? Discuss this relationship as you see it.

Jesus is never recorded in the Bible as saying the precise words, “I am God.” That does not mean, however, that He did not proclaim that He is God. Take for example Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason. “… you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity. Notice that Jesus does not deny His claim to be God. When Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence. John 8:58 is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” The response of the Jews who heard this statement was to take up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded them to do (Leviticus 24:15).

John reiterates the concept of Jesus’ deity: “the Word was God” and “the Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). These verses clearly indicate that Jesus is God in the flesh. Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Who bought the church—the church of God—with His own blood? Jesus Christ. Acts 20:28 declares that God purchased His church with His own blood. Therefore, Jesus is God!

Thomas the disciple declared concerning Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him. Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also 2 Peter 1:1). In Hebrews 1:8, the Father declares of Jesus, “But about the Son He says, ’Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as “O God” indicating that Jesus is indeed God.

In Revelation, an angel instructed the apostle John to only worship God (Revelation 19:10). Several times in Scripture Jesus receives worship (Matthew 2:11, 14:33, 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38). He never rebukes people for worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did. There are many other verses and passages of Scripture that argue for Jesus’ deity.

The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. Only God could pay such an infinite penalty. Only God could take on the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21), die, and be resurrected, proving His victory over sin and death. The name of that light is Jesus Christ.